8 minutes of live BP today, fastballs and change ups only, and it was awesome! Now, In some spring training camps the first day of “Live BP” (batting practice off live pitching) can be one of the most BORING days of spring. Why? Because nothing happens! Hitters are sent up to the plate with instructions to not swing if you don’t want to. The philosophy being that the hitters are usually so far behind in their timing that to have them swing away would only be counterproductive to their mechanics and their confidence, and they are better off just watching the ball come in. I vividly remember throwing live BP in one camp such as this where the hitters could only track the ball into the glove – no swinging allowed. For about 7 minutes I poured pitch after pitch over the plate, and all the hitters did was stand there in the box and watch. It was in my estimation maybe the most useless 7 minutes of “practice” I’ve ever been a part of in my life for everyone on the field…until finally there was a rebellion. One of the veteran players finally said, “F#@& this, I can’t get ready by watching, I need to swing the F#@&ing bat!”. He jumped in and went to hacking, and the group swung away the rest of the round, and the rest of the day.
Boredom was certainly not the order of the day in the first day of live BP in Padres camp today as the Padres hitters were swinging away early and often having been given a pep talk to be aggressive. Yes the FB’s are going to get on you in a hurry in the early going, but that’s how you get your timing and hands up to speed, and it was great to hear the sounds of baseball. Fastballs hitting mitts, AND the crack of of bats on the ball. I believe it’s a healthier mindset for the hitters, and it’s a good exercise for everyone when the hitters go in there with an aggressive attitude. They get their hands and timing work in, and the pitchers get a better read on how guys are truly reacting and seeing their offerings. Everyone looked good, and even the batters I spoke to who faced Tyson Ross and Andrew Cashner, two of the hardest throwers in camp, afterwards said it was good to see those guys on the first day…”it can only get easier from here!”
So who did I especially enjoy watch throwing the ball to hitters for the first time today? In the order of their appearances I thought Ian Kennedy looked good, with good action on the FB’s that he was generally locating at the knees. Not a lot of well struck balls against him. Tyson Ross simply has such great downward tilt and movement on his ball that it’s no fun to face him regardless of the setting. He’s continued to look strong in all his work so far. Maybe the guy the elicited the most compliments that I heard from the hitters he faced today was Robbie Erlin. Very crisp 8 minutes of work, putting a sharp FB wherever he wanted it, and good arm speed and action on his CH. He received high fives and a chorus of “Nice job, man” ‘s from his bat swinging teammates as he left the field…good confidence booster for the young lefty. Jesse Hahn again impressed me with his lively arm, and although Joe Ross is still far off from toeing the rubber at Petco I think he, being the youngest player in camp, has handled himself really nicely and did so again throwing mostly strikes in his session of work today. I’m reserving judgment on the hitters until I get a chance to see them swing for a few days, but I did not see anyone that looked totally lost today, even in what is traditionally a day of hitters looking understandably overmatched.
Before I go any further, Buddy did report the first injury of the camp this morning. Apparently Jonathan Galvez strained his groin during drills yesterday, and will miss a couple of days, but is expected to be fine. So far, other that this one incident, this has been a healthy camp and knock on wood it will continue.
So, I’ve talked a lot about the physical progress I’ve been seeing out of the players each day, but something else has been emerging, and revealing itself in little but meaningful ways here in the early days of camp. It is the camaraderie, and healthy respect that this group of players has been showing one another. I mentioned a few reports ago about the group of fellow pitchers that stopped to watch Casey Kelly throw a rehab bullpen session and stay to congratulate him afterwards, and now today Erlin getting the non requisite high fives after his workout. They are small but noticeable displays of guys really rooting for each other to do well.
There was another anecdotal example this morning during media picture day today. All the young guys are asked to get 
to the park super early on this day to get their gauntlet of photo and video stations done for all the card companies and media outlets. It’s part of the right of passage for the young guys in camp to get the worst hours on the schedule to take care of these camp requirements, with the veteran guys getting the more desirable report times for a few extra minutes of sleep, or time to sip their Starbucks. Usually in every camp, however, there is at least one, and sometimes more, young guys who think they are all that, and don’t have to follow this code of etiquette. They show up when they want thus creating problems for the media staff trying to keep everyone on schedule, and the rankling feathers of some of the vets and fellow young bucks as well. This year not a single young player showed up late or missed his scheduled time slot. Not a big deal…but not unnoticed either.
Yes, these examples are individually just small moments, but when you start to notice them spontaneously happening 
amongst different groups of players, it becomes a bit more meaningful. It signals two things to me. One, that this is a group of players who believe in themselves both individually and as a team, and two that the leadership of this team from the front office on down is doing their job effectively. In general when players believe they are part of something that can be successful, and they feel respected and that what they can contribute is valued, they will put their selfish concerns or motivations on the shelf, and put their best selves forward to doing whatever it takes to help the team win. It’s when players stop believing in themselves, or the leadership above them that they become self centered and self serving. I’ve witnessed both situations throughout my career, and the contrast in players attitudes and actions in both scenarios can be stunning.
It starts at the top with Josh Byrnes and his staff of lieutenants, who set the tone with the players and personalitites they bring in to the organization. It’s then in the hands of Buddy Black an his coaches who set a tone throughout not just the big league clubhouse, but the entire organization as well. As players get exposed to the big league players and coaches they are influenced by that, and carry that with them back to whichever minor league clubhouse they are assigned to. They carry with them and share with others what it’s like “up there”, how they were treated, what they learned, what they are expected to work on, and what is expected of them on and off the field, if and when they get a call up. Maybe most important can be the leadership of the players in their own clubhouse. Managers do set a tone, but all managers understand and acknowledge that there is a lot of self policing that goes on in a big league clubhouse throughout the season. It’s not always easy to find the right mix, but ideally you have veteran guys who are strong to lead and establish accountability without being self glorifying and demeaning.
Based on what I’m seeing so far this spring, it’s easy to get the sense that the hard work this group of front office and on the field leaders has been putting in to shape this organization in recent years is having its desired effect. The culture is changing. Players believe in the organization, themselves, and most importantly in each other, and it’s showing. Can’t wait for games to start in less than a week!
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